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Facts

DITALS

DITALS is a professional qualification offered by the Università per Stranieri di Siena for teachers (or prospective teachers) of Italian as a foreign language. DITALS certificates are graded according to levels of competence, allowing students to prepare for those levels which best suit their professional needs.

There are two levels of DITALS:

  • Level I Certificate (pre-DITALS)
  • Level II Certificate

I LEVEL DITALS (PRE-DITALS)

WHO IS IT FOR?

All those involved in the teaching of Italian, whether in Italy or abroad.

WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES?

Possession of the I level DITALS certificate guarantees a basic competence in the teaching of Italian as a second language and confers the holder the right of admission to Level II courses of DITALS in lieu of other prerequisites.

The I level DITALS is divided into six learner profiles, each one reflecting the didactic needs and interests of the prospective candidate: teaching young children, adolescents, adults, university students, immigrants and learners of Italian with Italian origins. Each candidate is free to choose among these areas.

WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU NEED TO UNDERTAKE IT?

Firstly, you must have a good knowledge of Italian: for those whose first language is not Italian, this means level C1 of the Framework guidelines. Secondly, you also need to have the necessary qualifications to attend a university. Thirdly, you’ll need to have at least 60 hours of teaching experience, irrespective of the subject or 60 hours of work placement in the context of teaching Italian.

THE EXAMINATION

Consisting of a written examination divided into three parts, the exam lasts about four hours. Part A examines your ability to analyse teaching materials, part B examines your ability to use texts for didactic purposes and part C examines your understanding of teaching theories. With the exception of certain sections of part C, all these examinations focus on the didactic category chosen by the candidate.

II LEVEL DITALS

WHO IS IT FOR?

This is aimed towards Humanities graduates with an excellent knowledge of Italian and solid experience of teaching Italian.

WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES?

Possession of the II level DITALS certificate documents the holder’s ability to teach Italian across each of the six learner profiles outlined above and certifies an advanced level of teaching Italian to non-native speakers.

WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU NEED TO UNDERTAKE IT?

You must have an excellent knowledge of Italian, equal to C2 (of the Framework guidelines) for those whose first language is not Italian. Graduates from foreign universities must also have a degree in Italian, Italian Studies or related areas. You must also have undertaken at least 30 hours of preparation course or be in possession of the I level DITALS certificate or equivalent. In addition you must also have completed at least 150 hours of teaching Italian to non-native speakers. For those who do not have a specifically relevant degree, 300 hours of teaching Italian to non-native speakers is needed. For those who don’t have a degree a further 150 hours of teaching/teacher training of Italian are required in addition to a DITALS level I certificate in at least two learner profiles and with a final mark of at least 90%.

THE EXAMINATION

The exam consists of four parts and is made up of both written and oral assessments which evaluate your practical and theoretical understandings. The exam lasts about five and a half hours.

GETTING A CERTIFICATE

To be conferred the DITALS certificate, be it I or II level, the candidate must achieve a given minimum mark in all the areas examined. When retaking the examination in cases where the minimum score was not achieved in all papers, candidates take only those papers where the score was insufficient. Once a pass has been achieved in any given paper, that result lasts three years, after which candidates must retake the whole examination to obtain the certificate. The cost of taking individual components of the DITALS examination is equal to one-third of the total cost for level I and one-quarter for level II.

All DITALS examinations are produced and evaluated at the Certification Centre of the Università per Stranieri di Siena.

EXAMINATION CENTRES AND EXAMINATION DATES

Examinations for DITALS I take place in authorised centres – the Università per Stranieri di Siena included – in January and August while those for DITALS II take place in June and December. In exceptional circumstances, centres can organise alternative dates.

For more information see our web site or contact us directly at address below.